Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RABAT1807
2007-12-04 18:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCO/SAHARA: COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLISARIO, BUT
VZCZCXYZ0011 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #1807 3381839 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 041839Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7837 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS IMMEDIATE 4598 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE 0670 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON IMMEDIATE 1215 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 5848 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT IMMEDIATE 3608
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001807
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2012
TAGS: PBTS PHUM PREL PGOV AG MO WI
SUBJECT: MOROCCO/SAHARA: COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLISARIO, BUT
STILL GOING TO MANHASSET 3
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert P. Jackson for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001807
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2012
TAGS: PBTS PHUM PREL PGOV AG MO WI
SUBJECT: MOROCCO/SAHARA: COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLISARIO, BUT
STILL GOING TO MANHASSET 3
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert P. Jackson for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) MFA Director-General Hilale convoked Ambassador
Riley and other P-5 Chiefs of Mission December 4 to discuss
Sahara. Hilale said the GOM is concerned that the
POLISARIO's General Congress will be held this year in
Tifarity, on Moroccan-claimed territory but on the
POLISARIO-controlled side of the berm, which was a
violation of the cease fire agreements, and POLISARIO
transportation of refugees there for the event was a
violation of their refuge in Algeria. He complained the
Congress would be used by the POLISARIO to falsely claim it
is the sole representative to the Sahrawi people. Finally,
he said the GOM is concerned that the Congress will
conclude with instructions to the POLISARIO delegation to
the Manhasset talks that it should only discuss the path to
independence. This he said, was a strategy aimed at
disrupting the talks.
2. (C) While not specifically, Hilale appeared to
implicitly confirm press reports that Morocco had agreed to
the next round at Manhasset January 7-9. He did not
include any specific request for P-5 member states.
3. (C) We understand he also separately convoked the
non-permanent UNSC members. Hilale provided a detailed
non-paper covering his points. Embassy emailed the nonpaper
Hilale provided to NEA/MAG.
4. (C) Comment: The GOM may be frustrated that the
announcement of the agreement on date and place for the
talks came from the POLISARIO, albeit in response to a GOM
proposal. Hilale's concerns about the Congress limiting
delegation flexibility is a reflection of the statement by
King Mohammed VI last month that only autonomy should be
discussed. We understand the last POLISARIO Congress,
without major incident some five years back, also took
place in Tifarity. In another reaction to the Congress,
Morocco is planning to hold a meeting of the CORCAS on
roughly the same dates in Smara, on its side of the berm,
just across from Tifarity. We heard separately from the MFA
that FM Fassi Fihri called Van Walsum December 3 to confirm
Moroccan attendance at the talks. End comment.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2012
TAGS: PBTS PHUM PREL PGOV AG MO WI
SUBJECT: MOROCCO/SAHARA: COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLISARIO, BUT
STILL GOING TO MANHASSET 3
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert P. Jackson for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) MFA Director-General Hilale convoked Ambassador
Riley and other P-5 Chiefs of Mission December 4 to discuss
Sahara. Hilale said the GOM is concerned that the
POLISARIO's General Congress will be held this year in
Tifarity, on Moroccan-claimed territory but on the
POLISARIO-controlled side of the berm, which was a
violation of the cease fire agreements, and POLISARIO
transportation of refugees there for the event was a
violation of their refuge in Algeria. He complained the
Congress would be used by the POLISARIO to falsely claim it
is the sole representative to the Sahrawi people. Finally,
he said the GOM is concerned that the Congress will
conclude with instructions to the POLISARIO delegation to
the Manhasset talks that it should only discuss the path to
independence. This he said, was a strategy aimed at
disrupting the talks.
2. (C) While not specifically, Hilale appeared to
implicitly confirm press reports that Morocco had agreed to
the next round at Manhasset January 7-9. He did not
include any specific request for P-5 member states.
3. (C) We understand he also separately convoked the
non-permanent UNSC members. Hilale provided a detailed
non-paper covering his points. Embassy emailed the nonpaper
Hilale provided to NEA/MAG.
4. (C) Comment: The GOM may be frustrated that the
announcement of the agreement on date and place for the
talks came from the POLISARIO, albeit in response to a GOM
proposal. Hilale's concerns about the Congress limiting
delegation flexibility is a reflection of the statement by
King Mohammed VI last month that only autonomy should be
discussed. We understand the last POLISARIO Congress,
without major incident some five years back, also took
place in Tifarity. In another reaction to the Congress,
Morocco is planning to hold a meeting of the CORCAS on
roughly the same dates in Smara, on its side of the berm,
just across from Tifarity. We heard separately from the MFA
that FM Fassi Fihri called Van Walsum December 3 to confirm
Moroccan attendance at the talks. End comment.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley